Agric Minister commends FC WAMCO as biggest investor in local milk production in Nigeria

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has donated a portable motorized milking machine to FrieslandCampina WAMCO, while lauding the company as the biggest investor in Nigeria’s dairy sector.

The machine has a capacity to milk 50 cows a day. Chief Ogbeh made the symbolic donation while declaring open the National Livestock Conference organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) taking place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

The objective of the conference, which runs from September 11-15, 2017 is to proffer solutions to major challenges of livestock production in the country, including farmer-herdsmen clashes.

According to the Minister, the donation was part of FMARD’s commitment to public-private partnerships in improving dairy farming and “it is also in recognition of FrieslandCampina WAMCO as the biggest investor in local milk production in Nigeria.”

Ogbeh said he was satisfied at the peaceful co-existence of Fulani herdsmen and indigenes of the local communities where FCWAMCO currently operates its Dairy Development Programme.

In his response, the Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Ben Langat, expressed gratitude at the Minister’s gesture and re-affirmed the company’s commitment to improving dairy farming. He said, “We now have five milk collection centres across Oyo State, even as we strengthen the infrastructure for quality milk production, train local dairy farmers and continue to ensure high quality of milk for our consumers.”

“We are also developing small holder dairy farming businesses supported by feed development and cross breeding programs to ensure sustainable dairy farming. Our plan is to ensure dairy farming remains economically viable by establishing the right structures and agricultural practices for sustainability” Langat said.